News
Commission - General
President's message | June 2025
We must end the practice of police investigating police deaths in custody Two recent Aboriginal deaths in custody in the Northern Territory have again raised questions about the treatment of First Nations people in Australia’s criminal justice systems. Kumanjayi White, a 24 year-old Warlpiri man with...
Commission - General
Data breach notification
The Australian Human Rights Commission has been affected by a data breach concerning attachments uploaded to the Commission’s web forms on its website.
Commission - General
President's message | May 2025
Cost of living issues are human rights issues Someone said to me just before election day that human rights hadn’t featured much in the federal election campaign. It’s true that the words “human rights” didn’t feature much - but human rights issues did. This was an election about the cost of living...
Commission - General
President's message | April 2025
The vital global role of National Human Rights Institutions Many people who are familiar with the Australian Human Rights Commission are less familiar with the global context in which we operate. The Commission is Australia’s national human rights institution (NHRI) and one of 118 NRHIs globally...
Commission - General
Australian women are diverse, so the approach to women’s safety should be as well
This International Women’s Day, the Commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission stand together to call for urgent action to ensure that all women and girls—of every background, age or disability—can live free from violence, discrimination, and inequality. This year’s International Women...
Commission - General
Affinity Intercultural Foundation NSW Parliamentary Iftar
Hugh de Kretser highlights rising intolerance and racism, urging unity and dialogue to achieve peace and respect for all, grounded in human rights and common humanity.
Commission - General
President's message | March 2025
We must work together to address the scourge of racism. The Director-General of ASIO, Mike Burgess, said in Parliament last week that “in terms of threats to life” antisemitism is ASIO’s top priority. He said he believed it was the first time a form of racism was the agency’s highest priority. The...
Commission - General
President's message | February 2025
UN decisions confirm Australia's human rights obligations to refugees and people seeking asylum sent offshore The Refugee Convention is the international community’s commitment to work together to protect people fleeing violence and persecution. When Australia agreed to be bound by the Refugee...
Commission - General
Statement: Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities
Commission President Hugh de Kretser's opening statement to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities.
Commission - General
President's message | December 2024
It's Human Rights Day; a day to reflect on human rights challenges and progress. 76 years ago today, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the pinnacles of human achievement. In adopting the Declaration after the horrors of World War 2, the international...
Commission - General
commUnity + Annual Celebration of Impact
There’s so many people in this room tonight who have played a big part in my life. This area and its people are close to my heart. Sunshine – Brimbank - Melton It’s where I got my real human rights education.
Commission - General
Tim McCoy dinner
It’s pretty special for me being here tonight as the speaker at the Tim McCoy dinner. There’s so many people in this room tonight who have played a big part in my life - making me a better human rights advocate and a better person. The McCoy Dinner is always a great celebration of the community...
Commission - General
President's message | November 2024
Dear friends, I’m pleased to share the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Annual Report 2023-24 which has been tabled in the Australian Parliament. In my first three months in this role, one of the things that has struck me is the breadth and depth of the Commission’s work. Our Annual Report...
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